To think I was put in an unacceptable situation regarding SEN students toileting needs?

Think of it this way.
A verbal SEN child says you hit them when you put a hand out to protect them/ yourself - your career could be damaged or even over.

I have never heard of schools changing children alone, I only know of 2 staff or parents being called in.

School sounds like it’s struggling with this class tbh and it sounds like you’re the dogs body.

There should be clear guidance on your role, the children you are supposed to be supporting and you should have seen the care plan/ EHCP/ Risk Assessment of every child your asked to support.

This is so unfair on you! If you are going to be working with mentally ill people, you should receive the best of training AND support. This is not on. Please look after yourself. Maybe leave this job? This is awful.

As a minimum I would say you will not do any intimate care until you have seen the schools intimate care policy and have been shown where all the supplies are.
You need to see the individual child's care plan before changing them.
And I would not be alone with any child or group of children unless you have a means of contacting another member of staff for example a walkie talkie.

Also please make sure you never lift, hold or restrain a child in any way.

Take it further. This is HIGHLY inappropriate. Unless it states on an ECHP that you can do intermitte care you should not be wiping their bums etc. And two staff members should be present.

Email the SENCO and the class teacher and ask if there is any training you can go on. Explain your concerns in email.

That way, there's a paper trail to say you've voiced your concerns too.

They are completely taking the piss here: especially paying under minimum wage and then providing no training.

Absolutely: escalate

It is a safeguarding issue for a new unqualified member of staff with no training or supervision, and no knowledge of the school's intimate care policy or the child's care plan, to be carrying out personal care for a child with SEN with no information about that child's needs. It's an unsafe situation for adult and child.

And quite frankly other than that she has a pulse and a DBS check, the school doesn't know anything about the OP. Apprentices should be supervised until you are sure they are competent.

It's interesting how many people are saying its wrong etc when really this is the reality of school life - in SEND schools and mainstream: under funded, under staffed, no time or money for training etc etc. Yet the same people would be outraged to hear about a child being left in their own faeces, that a child was denied school because they weren't toilet trained blah blah. SEND schools are full to bursting. Rightly or wrongly staff are expected to hit the ground running. This is a national issue and it is getting worse.
OP - in the morning, chat to your class teacher. Do you have a mentor as an apprentice? Perhaps ask them to develop and schedue some shadowing or training opportunities. There will be stuff online that you can access in your own time too. SEND teachers and TAs are amazing people. Its not for everyone and there's no shame in realising its not for you ultimately: I hope you get the support you need to love it! Good luck!

God OP I’m raging on your behalf. This is terrible for you. Hope things improve.

What does this mean?
Is this placement part of your apprenticeship?
I'm pretty sure no one should be providing intimate care w/o training, information and a sound knowledge of the school's policies.
These children must either have EHCP's or other plan in place and I'm pretty sure it will state that toileting will be carried out by someone with the appropriate training.

This ^

Hi OP, this is totally unacceptable.
No adult should be providing intimate care without another adult present.
This is rule number 1 in safeguarding, it is to protect YOURSELF from any allegations made against you.
At your level you should not be in charge of a special needs child(ren) on your own, anyplace.
Have you had an enhanced DBS?
Have you had ANY training AT ALL.

This is taking this piss in my opinion.
I'm sorry, this is really unfair on you and putting you in a dangerous position

Good luck and proceed with caution.

Not necessarily (SEN teacher)

An apprentice on their first day should not be straight in doing the job of a full qualified member of staff.
They are there to learn.
Surely you had apprentices sometimes at your preschool? You didn't just send them alone with children on their first day, carrying out personal care?

Indeed. Although I have referred someone for casework who'd been a member for 24 hours - but that's absolutely not the norm.

Also some used to say you have to be a member for 6/ 8wks before any representation but that may have changed now.

Unfortunately this has become part of being a teacher/teaching assistent in mainstream schools. A lot of posters have mentioned training on dealing with toileting care, but the fact that teachers might not want to do it, isn't even considered. You might expect it in nursery, but not working in a mainstream primary school. It will be more common as more children with SEND end up in mainstream schools, and with the increase in numbers of children without SEND starting school before they are toilet trained, and teachers are just expected to pick up the slack. That plus just managing the increasingly complex SEND needs in mainstream schools, its no wonder people are leaving the profession.

I taught in special schools for 30 years, and all those items were provided for our TAs, and they were obliged to use them.

In terms of PPE, as an NHS nurse or HCA doing basic hygiene assistance I would have access to-

Gloves (s, m & l) - you need them to fit
Disposable Apron
Paper Mask
Wipes
A plastic bag for solied laundry
A bin specifically for used PPE & wipes

All right there, easy to grab/use, in whatever space I am dealing with my patient.

Plus obviously a sink and hand wash.

Short sleeves only. Hair tied back. No lanyard or anything that hangs down and could get contaminated. No jewellery.

Under no circumstances would I be expected to clean up a child or an adult without the above.